This mid-19th century tsuba from the Edo period, crafted by the artisan Seki Yoshinori, is a masterful example of late samurai metalwork. The guard is sculpted into the form of a heavily coiled snake, its muscular body overlapping to create the perimeter of the tsuba while leaving open voids for a balanced, airy composition. The snake's head is positioned prominently at the top right, its smooth scales and alert eye rendered with exceptional realism. The central nakago-ana (blade opening) is set within a flat, oval plate that bears the artist’s signature, providing a sturdy anchor for the fluid, organic form of the reptile.

Tsuba (sword guard) with design of snake, Japan, Edo period, mid-19th century, Seki Yoshinori. MFA

Today I turn 89. I’ve seen this country at its best and its worst, and I know how much community matters. For my birthday, I’m asking you to stand with PFLAG and support the work that’s helped so many in the LGBTQ+ community, including me. give.pflag.org/page/95493/d...

Comic. One... two... THREE! [text in red] X Deprecated [line break] One... two... three... GO! [text in red] Deprecated [red curly bracket around top two lines] Too easy to mix up [line break] Three... two... one... GO! [text in green] [check mark] ISO Standard [caption] If I were in charge of ISO, the first thing I’d do would be to standardize the way people count out loud before doing something in sync.

Countdown Standard

xkcd.com/3232/

Happy Tax Day, New York. We’re taxing the rich.

I'm fed up of seeing drivers texting or reading from a phone ***while driving*** (and it's also unacceptable if you're stopped in traffic). If you are driving, it's very simple: you are in charge of a 1+ ton killing machine, so don't touch your phone. Ever. No, not even "insert excuse here".

The establishment is terrified of the Green Party’s momentum as we are the only party that is not compromised by vested interests. Solidarity with all council candidates unfairly smeared, it smacks of desperation - keep fighting for a fairer, greener country!

Shocked to hear from @resolutionfoundation.org today that the energy shock is set to make the avg household £480 worse off this year

People are already struggling, and who has an extra £480 lying around! Govt. desperately need to freeze energy price caps before they are whacked up again on 1st July

A spot of gardening in the middle of campaigning to help a old lady with mess and weedy garden.
The Greens don't just refer cases on to someone else to deal with, we get our hands dirty to make sure people in our community are looked after!

@leedsgreenparty.bsky.social @greenparty.org.uk

A very stocky Exmoor Horn ram.

Happy 8th anniversary to the tweet that changed us forever. Look at this absolute unit.

It's such an awesome time to be Green, we're topping the polls, we're winning the arguments and voters on the doorstep across the country love our message of unity, of hope and of change.
A people led movement is here
join.greenparty.org.uk

Zack on the front cover of Bricks Magazine with a t-shirt saying God Save Immigration

Delighted to be on the cover of Bricks Magazine - Spring Edition.

Real patrotism is loving your neighbor, showing compassion to strangers - and not staying silent whilst other politicians sell our country out.

bricksmagazine.co.uk/2026/04/06/z...

How Paris beat the car Though chaotic, the city’s transition has become a global role model

“The city’s transition away from the car, tho fantastically chaotic, has become a global role model. Under mayor @annehidalgo.bsky.social, Paris was ‘the most influential city in the world’ says Canadian urbanist Brent Toderian. Hidalgo, stepping down after 12 yrs, exulted: ‘The bike beat the car.’”

Y'all there is a woman and a black man circling the moon and NASA's mission control+ science teams are so diverse and people are nerding out about science and exploration this is all a gigantic middle finger to the stupid and hate and grotesque ghouls running our country

Zack in front of a hope is here sign.

🚨 First time in British history that a party to the left of Labour have topped a national poll.

💚 Hope is here. It's all of us.

✊🏼 Reject hateful, divisive politics - and let's make hope normal again.

Join.greenparty.org.uk

This haori features a masterful combination of woven and stenciled techniques that create a complex layered composition reminiscent of both traditional Japanese aesthetics and emerging modernist sensibilities. The design presents flowing, wave-like leaves in deep blue that undulate across a neutral ground, interspersed with delicate white floral motifs that appear to float like scattered petals or snowflakes. The close-up detail reveals the intricate interplay between vertical striping in the base weave and the superimposed curvilinear elements, showcasing the period's technical innovation in textile production. The artistic approach reflects the influence of Art Deco's streamlined forms while maintaining distinctly Japanese elements in its organic flow and asymmetrical balance. The scattered floral elements suggest the ephemeral beauty of cherry blossoms or other seasonal flowers, reinforcing themes of mono no aware—the bittersweet awareness of the impermanence of all things. The restrained color palette of indigo blue against cream demonstrates the period's embrace of modernist simplicity while honoring the Japanese aesthetic principle of shibui—understated elegance.

This haori features a masterful combination of woven and stenciled techniques that create a complex layered composition reminiscent of both traditional Japanese aesthetics and emerging modernist sensibilities. 1926-1940, Japan

In a blatant act of provocation yesterday, Sadiq Khan allowed Christians to perform the Passion of Jesus in Trafalgar Square - a disgraceful show of dominance by a religion from the middle east.

Can you imagine any other govt policy being allowed to do such barrelling damage to our economy and national standing... and politicians and media just shrugging and saying,
"Oh well. Better not upset the rightwing nutbags”
Brexit is like being pushed over and being too scared to ever get up again.

SPRINGSTEEN IN MINNEAPOLIS: “This is still America… and this reactionary nightmare and invasion of American cities will not stand.” 🇺🇸

(From ablackpolitical)

Campaigning for inclusive cycling, Wheels for Wellbeing Wheels for Wellbeing is an award-winning charity supporting disabled people of all ages and abilities to enjoy the benefits of cycling.

If you haven't been able to join any of our discussion sessions on the DfT’s consultation into powered mobility aids, there are still two more planned.

These friendly sessions are your chance to ask questions, explore different perspectives, and even challenge some of the ideas we’ve been sharing.

1 [Nurse talking to camera] This is usually our busiest time of year at the centre 2 [Show a sign outside a medical institution reading:] Centre for Adults Who Still Can’t Get Their Heads Round Daylight Savings 3 NURSE: We have a spike in admissions when BST starts 4 CONFUSED PATIENT BEING LAID DOWN BY NURSES: Is it forward or back? NURSE: Lie down love 5 We often see the same patients ever year PATIENT: So it’s like… time travel? DOCTOR: No 6 Every year we try to explain BST to them in a fun and memorable way [The patients are sat around a fun show, with people dressed in bunny suits jumping around a giant clock] BUNNY: And now I *spring forward*... 7 [Bunny springs forward one hour on clock] 8 PATIENT WATCHING SHOW: I don’t get it 9 The hardest patients are the Summer Time refusers 10 PATIENT [sat strapped to a chair as a doctor talks to him through a screen, through a tannoy] PATIENT: But why is it better? DOCTOR [talking through microphone]: Because it complicates things. 11 PATIENT: How is that good? DOCTOR: It makes you more tired. 12 DOCTOR [to assistant]: Fetch the cattle prod [Ends]

I think the clocks in UK go back tonight. Or forward. Not sure. Is it forward

The spectator. Zacked off. A pretty ludicrous image of Zack with Hannah and Mothin chopping down trees and harassing badgers!

Erm....

Are these people ok?

I don't think they're ok.

Join.greenparty.org.uk

Oxford Labour: "we'd like to be seen as a climate leader, but we won't actually support any policies to tackle transport emissions because we think we'll get a few more votes that way."

Is Labour tough on congestion, and tough on the causes of congestion?

Is Labour committed to do whatever it takes to reduce air pollution in our towns and cities?

Is Labour on the side of those who want to see bold action on climate change, on the side of those who want a habitable planet?

No.

Norwich is Green Vs Reform.

Hope Vs Hate.

Nearly a thousand people signed up for hope today!

Reform UK really do inspire community action in the most unexpected ways.

ALT TEXT: Collage of Lambeth Green Party activities from this week: supporting pension divestment campaign, meeting residents affect by potential nursery closures, attending London housing hustings, and launching road safety petition in Streatham.

Here are just a few of the things your @lambethgreenparty.bsky.social councillors have been up to this week.

Our party is growing. Please join us:
join.greenparty.org.uk

We said we would replace Labour and take the fight to Reform.

And that's exactly what's happening.

We need you.

Join.greenparty.org.uk

Not just in Barnet, this is happening all over the country! 💚🌍🕊️

Repost if this applies to your local Green Party group 😜

This magnificent kurofurisode (black long-sleeved kimono) is a formal wedding garment from the Taisho period (1912–1926). It serves as a masterclass in early 20th-century Japanese textile artistry, featuring an intricate arrangement of auspicious motifs designed to bring good fortune to a bride. The garment’s composition is weighted toward the hem and sleeves, a stylistic hallmark of formal kimono from this era. The design centers on a rich landscape of matsu (pine) and kiku (chrysanthemum), symbols of longevity and endurance. These are rendered using a combination of yuzen dyeing and delicate embroidery. Several pine motifs are filled with meticulous geometric patterns, such as shippo (seven treasures) and kikko (tortoiseshell), while others feature the kanoko shibori (fawn-spot tie-dye) technique. Cascading wisteria and stylized clouds in shades of coral, lavender, and sage green create a sense of movement. The transition from the deep black upper section to the warm, golden-tan hem is achieved through a soft bokashi (color gradation), providing a sophisticated backdrop for the dense, symbolic ornamentation.

This kurofurisode -- a formal wedding garment for the bride -- showcases a sophisticated interplay of auspicious wedding motifs rendered through an extraordinary combination of decorative techniques. Taisho period (1912-1926), Japan